In the 20th year of the Daoguang Era, the Empire used ships and cannons to blast open the gates of the Qing Dynasty and signed the first unequal treaty in modern China, the Treaty of Nanjing.
It was known as the Opium War.
In 1860, the Empire came again and brought its good brother, France, to beat up the 'local moneybags' in the Far East. The two countries had a great harvest and made a lot of money. She left happily and promised to come back next year …
In addition, Russia also came and forced the Qing Dynasty to cede 1.5 million square kilometers of territory in the northeast and northwest.
The invasion of the Great Powers began to deepen.
In the middle, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom experienced a natural disaster. The people were in poverty and the strength of the country gradually declined. This once colossus was no longer as powerful as it once was.
In the 20th year of the Guangxu Era, the Battle of Jiawu dealt another heavy blow to the Qing Dynasty. Even the little brother could ride on the Qing Dynasty's head and demand compensation.
Whether it was the people, the Bloodline Realm, or the Imperial Court, as long as one was knowledgeable, they knew that the country could not go on. If it did not reform and progress, there would only be more robbers.
They made a lot of efforts and changes, but the results were not ideal.
In 1900, on the 17th of June, the Western Powers not only built an embassy in the capital, they also forcefully stationed the embassy guards in the capital. This was like sticking their eyes into their own spring water.
The dignified Chinese Heavenly Dynasty, a great country, had its face stepped on by the Western powers time and time again, and even spat on it.
Both the people and the country were facing an unprecedented disaster.
At that time, the Eight-Nation Alliance captured the Da Gukou Fort.
The entire capital was enraged and the people were boiling with anger.
In terms of weapons, the Qing Dynasty was not weaker than the Eight-Nation Alliance. In the Da Gukou Fort's armory, there were Krupp's most advanced cannons, the most advanced Mauser rifles, and the most advanced German heavy machine guns. There were millions of rounds of bullets.
Apart from Germany, the equipment of other countries could not compare to the Qing Dynasty.
As early as the Battle of Jiawu, the Qing Dynasty's army and navy were already stronger than the Japanese.
The knowledgeable people of the Bloodline Realm realized that what was lacking wasn't the weapons, but the rotten regime. And the Qing Dynasty's increasingly chaotic army.
The Imperial Court could not be counted on, and advanced weapons could not be counted on either. They needed an unstoppable force to help the country through this crisis.
Invincible!
This was what everyone desired the most at the moment.
While the pro-war faction and the pro-peace faction were still in a stalemate, the Li family's doorstep had already been broken by visitors.
On this day, a total of thirteen forces from the Blood Kin World had gathered at the Li Residence. These were the Blood Kin forces that had participated in the Soul Refinement Project.
The Li family had a daughter who had grown up to be a great master comparable to Ji Dao. No, even Ji Dao might not be as suitable as her to be the Unparalleled Fighting Soul. It was said that the strengthening ability could be strengthened infinitely …
The Chosen One!
Almost everyone who heard the news had the same thought.
The daughter of the Li family was simply fated to be born for the Unparalleled Fighting Soul.
As for who spread the news, everyone knew very well.
The hall was full of distinguished guests. All the nearby clansmen had been dispersed, and Li Rufeng personally took on the responsibility of serving tea and pouring water.
At this moment, there was an intense argument going on here.
However, when faced with the persuasion of more than a dozen forces, Li Qiyun displayed a rarely seen strong will, arguing with the forces until his face turned red.
"Don't even think about it. It's impossible for my daughter to become an Unparalleled Battle Soul. I won't agree even if God comes. "He slammed the table and shouted angrily.
These words were actually aimed at Zang Yue. It should be known that the person secretly supporting the Soul Refinement Project was the most powerful woman in the Great Qing Dynasty. Usually, if it was reported to the heavens by someone with ulterior motives, it would be enough to make him suffer.
"If you can let your son enter the Soul Refinement Project, why can't your daughter?" someone said angrily.
"Everyone, do you have a clear conscience to let a woman take on the responsibility of saving the country?"
"If we could, we wouldn't have to beg you so humbly. The country is in a precarious situation, and the people have no way to live. No one is afraid of death, but we all dare to die. Lord Li, we really have no other choice. "
Li Rufeng stood at the side, thinking that this was the truth. If it was anyone else present, if they were suitable, they would probably be fighting to be the first.
"Lord Li, you should know that the Soul Refinement Project is of great importance. Not only is King Duan and the others looking forward to it, but so is the current one."
The one who hated the foreign powers the most was, of course, Cixi. On her 60th birthday, Japan got rid of the Beiyang Navy. When she staged a coup and helped Pu Xi ascend the throne, the foreigners got in the way.
"Impossible." Li Qiyun's reply did not change.
This time, not to mention the others, even her son Li Rufeng was surprised.
That smooth and slick Lord Li, who always put the family first, was forced to this point, but he still refused to budge.
"Everyone, why don't you discuss it with Liao 'er." He even sneered and threatened.
"Her body, hair, and skin belong to her parents. Lord Li can decide for her," someone said unhappily.
How would they dare? If the news was true, that person was a master who could explode with extreme power for a short period of time. They didn't dare to rush into the backyard to discuss it with that person. That was no different from asking for death in the toilet.
In the end, they parted on bad terms.
Li Zhi walked out from the back of the hall and personally poured tea for Li Qiyun. "Father, why don't you agree? Don't you hate foreigners the most? "
She had actually been eavesdropping.
"Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, but there is no such thing as women and children being responsible. The rise and fall of a country has nothing to do with women and children since ancient times. "Li Qiyun shook his head." There is no such logic. "
Li Zhi bit her lip.
Li Qiyun looked at her and suddenly realized that in the past year, he rarely looked at his daughter carefully. She was becoming more and more beautiful.
The daughters of the Li family were born beautiful.
"Your mother passed away early. When you were young, I was busy with official business and rarely saw you. When you finally grew up, I sent you out to cultivate. I only have you and Rufeng as my legitimate son and daughter. Your eldest brother has already settled down. In the future, I still want to see you get married and find a good husband. "
"Father, I want to break through to the extreme, so I don't want to get married." Li Zhi blushed.
"A woman's virtue is virtue if she has no talent. What a wise saying." Li Qiyun sighed.
If she was just an ordinary woman, she wouldn't be in such a difficult situation today.
Outside, the situation was changing day by day.
The foreigners had captured the Da Gukou Fort and were marching towards the capital. At that time, the Boxers were destroying the railways to fight against the foreigners. Inside, they were wantonly smashing the embassies of various countries. The German Minister to China, Clint, went to the Prime Minister's Yamen to ask for protection and was killed by the Qing soldiers.
The pro-war faction repeatedly submitted petitions, asking for a battle to the death with the foreigners. Empress Dowager Cixi, who had been in charge of the Qing Dynasty for decades, wavered between supporting the Boxers and providing material aid to the foreigners.
On the 21st, Cixi suddenly called for a meeting and uncharacteristically declared war on the Eight-Nation Alliance. The Imperial Edict said, "Rather than drag out an ignoble existence and be a disgrace to the ages, it is better to denounce and fight to the death."
Of course, this was an imperial edict that only the internal ministers knew. It was a mobilization slogan and not made public, nor did it openly declare war on the Eight-Nation Alliance.
Although Cixi was a prodigal woman, she still had some brains.
.....
Early in the morning, at the gate of the Li Residence.
"Big Brother, be careful. Escape if you can, don't fight recklessly. I heard that the Blood Descendants of various countries are very strong, "Li Zhi whispered.
Ordinary guns and cannons were not much of a threat to the Blood Descendants. As long as they were not unlucky enough to be hit by cannons, it was difficult for ordinary soldiers to kill the Blood Descendants in one shot. But since ancient times, the Blood Descendants had always been active on the battlefield.
The elites of the Blood Descendants of the foreigners were much more numerous and stronger than the Qing. The Qing Dynasty had been baptized by years of war, and the Blood Descendants had suffered heavy losses. Moreover, the Blood Descendants of the country were not united in resisting the foreign enemies.
In fact, apart from the Boxers, only the Blood Descendants of the north were resisting the foreign enemies.
This phenomenon was not unique to the Blood Descendants, it was the same for the army.
The Qing Dynasty's control over the entire country was very weak.
After Cixi's mobilization meeting, the Qing army in the north officially joined the war against the Eight-Nation Alliance. Li Rufeng was an expert in the army and had rich experience. He was ordered to be transferred to Jinshi to participate in the war and resist the advance of the Eight-Nation Alliance into the capital.
"I will take good care of the family. Sister-in-law and the others are very safe in the manor," Li Zhi added.
The brother and sister whispered for a long time. Li Qiyun, who had sent his son to war, only said one thing: Come back alive.
"Jiu 'er, Brother will return in triumph."
Li Rufeng called out his sister's childhood name and reached out to caress her head.
"I want to tell those people that the Qing Dynasty can win even without the Peerless War Soul."
It had been many years since someone called her by her childhood name. Li Zhi recalled the time when she was young. Her birth mother died early, and her father was busy with official business. The concubines at home were all sharp and unkind, and they bullied the motherless brother and sister.
However, after Li Rufeng turned ten, no one dared to bully them anymore. This was because Li Rufeng had awakened at the age of ten.
In fact, in the early years, Li Zhi had awakened before her eldest brother. She did not say anything because she was greedy for her eldest brother's love and protection.
In the blink of an eye, her eldest brother had already started a family.
.....
Ever since the Eight-Nation Alliance captured the Dagu Pass Fort, Jinshi became a strategic location that both armies fought over. In order to avoid the fate of the capital being captured, the Qing Dynasty had to defend Jinshi.
At first, the battle situation was good, and reports of victory came one after another.
However, as the Eight-Nation Alliance increased the number of soldiers, the Blood Descendants of the various countries gathered, and by the 6th of July, the battle in Jinshi became intense. On the 14th, Jinshi fell, and the Governor of Zhili, Yu Lu, committed suicide after the defeat. At the same time, the commander of the Vanguard, Li Rufeng, also died in battle.
"He was stabbed dozens of times, and was finally beheaded by a Blood Descendant expert of the Murray Clan."
After the battle, this was what the subordinate who secretly brought back the corpse said.
That day, it was raining heavily. Late at night, one of Li Rufeng's trusted subordinates came back with the corpse.
When Li Zhi heard the bad news, she rushed to the outer courtyard and saw her father standing in the rain. At his feet was a corpse covered with a white cloth.
Suddenly, her heart seemed to be blocked by something. She walked over step by step, letting the boundless rain wet her clothes and hair. The rain gathered on her long eyelashes, as if there was a heavy rain in her eyes.
"Your eldest brother … is gone." Her father's first sentence.
"People in troubled times should die when they die." Her father's second sentence.
"Zhi 'er, kill them all. Kill them all." Her father's third sentence.
"Alright."
Li Zhi replied calmly. "I want to be alone with my eldest brother for a while."
Her father, who only had one legitimate son, left in despair.
Now that she thought about it, he probably had the will to die before he left.
It was not easy to find the best candidate, and the Qing court would definitely not let it go.
Ever since he was young, he used the phrase "the eldest brother is the father" as a benchmark, and did his best to protect his sister, even though his sister was already strong enough to press him to the ground.
The Qing Dynasty really needed a big victory to boost their morale and restore their confidence. He wanted to win, but it was not good for him to be honest with himself and his father.
This was something he would do.
That day, she stood in the rain for an entire night, thinking about her childhood, thinking about the bits and pieces of her childhood with her eldest brother, thinking about her eldest brother's love and care in the past, thinking about … the eldest brother was like a father.
.。 m.
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